No, these were the three snaps the San Diego Chargers superstar was limited to in the AFC title game loss at New England in January. Tomlinson, so close to his first Super Bowl that he could smell it, left Gillette Stadium wondering what might have occurred if his sprained left knee hadn't forced him to spend the bulk of his first title game on a cold, hard bench.

Then came the proverbial insult heaped on injury. Some critics — most notably \Deion Sanders of NFL Network — slammed Tomlinson for not gutting it out as quarterback Philip Rivers (torn anterior cruciate ligament) and tight end Antonio Gates (dislocated toe) did in limping through the game.

"Big-time players," Sanders scolded, "must play big-time games."

There are a mountain of issues to question as the Chargers gear up for another run — Rivers' right knee, Gates' left toe, center Nick Hardwick's right foot, Shawne Merriman's equilibrium after the linebacker dismissed doctors' advice to skip the season and have his left knee surgically repaired — but Tomlinson's heart isn't one of them.

"All the things I've played through my whole career and haven't missed a game. Now all of a sudden I'm not tough?" Tomlinson said as he started his rehab. "You think I just wanted to sit on the sideline and not go in the championship game? That's ridiculous."

LaDainian Tomlinson and the Chargers have been deep into the playoffs the past two seasons without reaching the Super Bowl.

Heading into his eighth season, the NFL's two-time rushing champ has dropped hints that he might play just two or three more seasons.

The clock is ticking to get a ring.

It's possible this could be the year. The Chargers, eliminated from the past two playoffs with close losses to the Patriots, might have the most talented roster in the NFL. Again, though, the Patriots and Indianapolis Colts — the only teams in the NFL with more victories than the Chargers over the past four years — seemingly set the standard.

But San Diego lurks. The Chargers beat the Colts twice last season. In the title game, they played the Patriots tough despite their hefty toll from injuries.

Says Rivers, "We're battle-tested."

The passionate Merriman, with an NFL-high 39½ sacks the past three seasons, might epitomize the team's determination. Despite two torn ligaments, he's willing to strap on a brace, risk further damage and play — putting off surgery for another day.

Tomlinson can relate. He rushed back to play in the title game, only to discover he wasn't explosive enough to be on the field.